CHICAGO, Ill. — A massive semi-truck fire brought outbound traffic on the Stevenson Expressway to a standstill Monday afternoon, shutting down all lanes on Interstate 55 just north of Damen Avenue, according to Illinois State Police.

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The incident began around 3:10 p.m., when troopers responded to reports of a semi-truck fully engulfed in flames in the middle of the expressway. Cellphone and social media video captured the dramatic scene, showing the cab burning intensely and a towering plume of black smoke rising across Chicago’s Southwest Side.

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State Police said all outbound lanes were immediately shut down as firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze and crews began cleanup operations. Traffic quickly backed up for miles, with delays of up to an hour reported by Total Traffic.

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One lane briefly reopened after 4 p.m., but the fire flared up again around 4:40 p.m., forcing extended closures. By 6 p.m., Illinois State Police confirmed that all outbound lanes had fully reopened.

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No injuries were reported.

According to ABC7 Chicago, the cause of the fire has not yet been disclosed, and the investigation remains ongoing.

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